Malawi govt denies ‘sheer waste’ for house of High Commissioner to Kenya: Clarifies ‘misleading’ report, not K10m but K4m monthly rentals

Malawi government has vehemently denied newspaper accusations of “sheer waste” over a report that is paying $13 000 (about K10 million) monthly to house Malawi High Commissioner to Kenya, Agrinna Mussa who vacated the official residence government bought 20 years ago, citing security concerns and the need to have the house rehabilitated.

Front view of the house that needs renovations

Back view of the house

Agrina Mussa, Malawi High Commissioner with President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta

Published reports say for two years, Mussa has been housed at Panari (Hotel) luxurious apartment, which is fully furnished and serviced, and is located in Westland in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

But Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in a statement made available to Nyasa Times on Tuesday said the Nation on Sunday report was “misleading”.

“The Malawi Government has two properties at the Malawi High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya, with one serving as a Chancery and the other one as an Official Residence. The two properties were acquired in 1990 as unfinished and/ or existing structures and were later redesigned and modified to suit the requirements of the Malawi Government,” the statement from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said.

The statement said one of the properties was, thus, redesigned and modified for use as Chancery, while the other one was made into an Official Residence.

“Accordingly, the properties were used as such until 2005 when the Malawi Government closed the Mission. The Malawi Government reopened the Embassy in November 2013. By that time, however, both the Chancery and the Official Residence had deteriorated and required major maintenance works,” reads the statement in part.

The ministry said the first to be finished and occupied was the Chancery and maintenance works on the Official Residence had only been partially done when the current Malawi High Commissioner to Kenya, Mussa decided to take occupancy.

“In December 2017, armed robbers broke into the compound, taking advantage of all the unfinished maintenance works, including the security fence. The armed robbers held the guards and gardener at gunpoint. It was as a result of this incident that the High Commissioner moved to a rented apartment,” it explained, a position confirmed by Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Relations Isaac Munlo in the newspaper report.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations spokesperson Rejoice Chaponda Sumba disputed the quoted figure of $13 000 (about K10 million) monthly to house its High Commissioner to Kenya, saying it was $6 000, which translates to about K4.5 million.

“The fact of the matter is that the High Commissioner is renting an apartment for $3,500 a month while the rental entitlement for a High Commissioner in Nairobi is $6500,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified

According to the statement, Suzgo Chitete who wrote the newspaper article on Sunday, 5th August 2018, had submitted a questionnaire which was responded to accordingly by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

“But the facts in the article are not the ones that were given in the response. Parliament has approved some funds for the maintenance of the property; the Ministry will work with speed to have the maintenance works completed, once the funds are released by Treasury. When this is done the High Commissioner will vacate the rented premises and return to the Official Residence,” the statement said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation appealed to the media to use verified facts in the conduct of its work.

However, the newspaper report indicated that the Auditor General’s report of 2013 indicates that resources for the rehabilitation of the Nairobi residence were made available in 2012 but were abused.

People like Pedegu are perhaps indirectly benefiting from the loot. Look at his or her comments. This country needs a prudent leader who can save cents and turn them into dollars. Its that simple Pedegu does not need rocket science

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7 months ago

Guest

Waku Gauteng

What do you need these properties for? apart from the fact that whoever is sent, goes there to have a good time. If there are benefits for the Malawi nation, please someone quantify them scientifically or else its another form of wasteful expenditure

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7 months ago

Guest

Kyala

The same situation is in uk where the ambassador’s huge house owned by Malawi govt is not used but renting private house property is preferred., wasting tax payers money. Kamuzu was clever when his govt bought all these houses, to save wasting govt money. I think some diplomats are benefitting from the rental income they pay privately. Hence their reluctance to use govt houses abroad where they will get nothing. Pure lunacy. The foreign office need to take stock of all diplomatic houses abroad. We could save millions. Alternatively sell them all to bring forex home. The uk house alone… Read more »

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7 months ago

Guest

Kholowa

If this Chaponda is related to TO THIS GEORGE CHAPONDA THERES NO TRUTH IN THIS! Shes answering from avery poinous,demonic name CHAPONDA.

So the spokesperson is Chaponda ……….kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk,,,,, how true is her statement……..surely as long as there Chaponda in her name we can’t trust her any more kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkiest

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7 months ago

Guest

Aluya

Koma Mayi Agrina Musa dziko ili alidyerera.h

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7 months ago

Guest

wakudya

ehh koma inu,,alipo okha kodi mdziko muno?

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7 months ago

Guest

Mkandagudu

Looks like the DPP-led administration is and will continue to be disputing and refuting reports time on end. This will become tougher as the campaign season is just around the corner

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7 months ago

Guest

#DzukaniAmalawi

One by one these specific disturbing matters will revealed one by one by UTM. It will so painful for DPP to campaign with the looting that have effected in the last 4 years. It will make an excellent reading and fun for UTM

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7 months ago

Guest

Tsogolo Lathu

The waste is every where. In February this year I was in Zambia and I decided to visit our embassy. We have a new big building and more advanced than embassies of Tanzania and Botswana nearby. What puzzled me was to hear that the building only hosts three people( A high a Commissioner, one DPP political appointee and a Defence attache). If we were prudent in resourse management this building can be rented out for almost $15,000/month and find another office to accommodate these 3 people at a cost of any $5,000/month. The building is at a prime area near… Read more »

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7 months ago

Guest

Biti John

U might b shit too in your head

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7 months ago

Guest

CitizenX

biti john , u r the shit in the head, the dpp appointee must be ur father ya. Tsogolo lathu is talking sense, those 3 in the embassy musty go rent a flat. Malawi Govt should stop wasting resources. Dont worry my brother UTM is coming and we will drain all the swamps